Charles A. Wayman

Left Formation April 17, 2000

Charles A. Wayman, 83, a former Des Plaines Elementary District 62 school board member, died April 17, in Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart, Fla.

Mr. Wayman had served as trustee from 1952 to 1962 when the area was experiencing tremendous growth, said Rex Wilson, a former school trustee who served with Mr. Wayman.

“We built three schools back then,” said Wilson, who added that Mr. Wayman also had served three years as board president. “He was a very good administrator.”

Born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., Mr. Wayman was raised in Columbus, Ohio where he attended the School of Journalism at Ohio State University before serving two years in the Army Air Force as a bombardier stationed in Great Britain during World War II.  

Mr. Wayman and his wife, Elizabeth, married in 1943, just before he was shipped overseas. He returned home in 1945 and began working as a construction reporter for F.W. Dodge, a construction industry analyst and publisher in Chicago.

In 1955, Mr. Wayman took a technical writing position at U.S. Gypsum, a Chicago-based manufacturer of building materials. By the time he retired in 1978, Mr. Wayman was the firm’s director of advertising.

A resident of Des Plaines for 50 years, Mr. Wayman also was president of the Lions Club in Des Plaines in 1971 and secretary and trustee of the foundation at First Congregational Church in Des Plaines.

During his retirement, Mr. Wayman enjoyed travel and divided his time between his home in Des Plaines and his condominium in Stuart, Fla.

“He was very anxious to help people,” said his wife of 57 years. “He was always the optimist.”

Other survivors include two sons, Robert and Timothy, and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday in Oehler Funeral Home, 555 Lee St., Des Plaines. A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Congregational Church, 766 Graceland Ave., Des Plaines.

 Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois)